Embassy of the United Kingdom, Mogadishu

British Embassy, Mogadishu
Opening of the new British Embassy, 2013
Map
LocationSomalia Mogadishu, Somalia
Coordinates2°01′48″N 45°20′11″E / 2.0299°N 45.3364°E / 2.0299; 45.3364
AmbassadorBen Fender
Websitewww.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-mogadishu

The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Mogadishu is the diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in Somalia. It was led by Ambassador Ben Fender.[1] Kate Foster became the ambassador based in Mogadishu but there were no consular services.[2]

History

Following Somalia's independence in 1960, Britain maintained an embassy in the national capital Mogadishu.[3] The embassy later closed down in January 1991, after the start of the civil war.[4] In the ensuing period, the British government maintained relations in absentia with the Transitional National Government and its successor the Transitional Federal Government. After the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia in August 2012, the British authorities re-affirmed the UK's continued support for Somalia's government, its territorial integrity and sovereignty.[5]

On 25 April 2013, the UK became the first European Union member state to re-open its embassy in the country since the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia.[6] British Foreign Secretary William Hague attended the opening ceremony in Mogadishu.[7] The compound is situated near the Aden Adde International Airport. Hague described the new embassy as a symbol of the close ties between the British and Somali governments, through which the administrations would work on bilateral security, peacebuilding and statebuilding.[6]

Kate Foster was the ambassador based in Mogadishu in 2021 but there were no consular services. British nationals who needed this type of support in either Somalia or Somaliland were instructed to contact the British High Commission in Nairobi.[8] Mr Michael Nithavrianakis was appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, and took up his appointment in May 2023.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "British Embassy Mogadishu". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. ^ "British Embassy Mogadishu - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  3. ^ Great Britain. Dept. of Trade, Great Britain. Dept. of Industry (1984). British Business, Volume 14. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 130. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  4. ^ Whitaker, Joseph (1992). Whitaker's Almanack. Whitaker's Almanack. p. 1012. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Communiqué on Secretary-General's Mini-Summit on Somalia". United Nations. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b Andreas Mehler; Henning Melber; Klaas van Walraven (2014). Africa Yearbook Volume 10: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2013. BRILL. p. 36. ISBN 978-9004282643. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Britain Re-opens Embassy in Somalia". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  8. ^ "British Embassy Mogadishu - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-15.